Africa-Press – Angola. The meeting of the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, with the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, in Washington, constitutes the highlight of Press’s political news last week.
During the historic meeting, João Lourenço, who was, for the first time, in a “tête-à-tête” with the North American President, in the Oval Room of the White House, expressed Angola’s total openness to strengthening the economic partnership with this western country, as well as in other areas of interest, such as energy, transport and space exploration.
Speaking to the press after leaving the meeting, the Angolan President expressed satisfaction, stating that the levels of relations between the two countries are quite high and Angola, and the African continent, came out on top.
He said that the US involvement in the Lobito Corridor and other telecommunications and clean energy projects are proof of the materialization of Joe Biden’s commitment to the development of the continent.
“These infrastructures will help not only Angola, but a large part of the continent,” he said, highlighting that the meeting marks the beginning of a new page in relations between the US and Africa.
In turn, Joe Biden reaffirmed his country’s commitment to helping develop Angola and Africa, having announced an investment in agricultural infrastructure for Angola, which will make the country an exporter of excellence, from 2027.
He also announced a financial package of USD billion for Angola, for projects linked to the production of clean energy until 2025, as well as taking advantage of the meeting to congratulate the Angolan President for his role in favor of the stability and pacification of the Great Lakes Region, in particular the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
He also assured the mobilization of more than USD billion for the construction of railway lines, which could extend from Angola to the DRC and Zambia, stating that the USA is committed to the future of the entire African continent and that, in Africa, ” no country is more important than Angola”.
Another notable fact is the participation of President João Lourenço in the COP 28 World Climate Action Summit, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
When speaking at the event, this Saturday, the Head of State highlighted Angola’s commitment to renewable energy, having highlighted that the country faces all issues relating to climate change with great firmness and commitment.
He also spoke about the phenomenon of severe drought that occurs cyclically in the south of the country, and in other parts of the planet, and highlighted that Angola, as president of the Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OEACP), will defend the interests and concerns of the organization , relating to climate change, as a large part of its members are exposed to the phenomenon and its “serious consequences”.
In the last seven days, Angola’s election to the position of president of the Association of African Ombudsmen and Mediators (AOMA), which took place in Kigali, Rwanda, during the body’s 7th general assembly, and the announcement, by the Vice President of the Republic, Esperança da Costa, about the entry of more than 900 professionals in the research area.
The country was represented, in Kigali, by the ombudsman, Florbela Araújo, who succeeds her Rwandan counterpart Madeleine Nierere in the position, for a period of two years.
In turn, the vice-president made it known that 923 professionals, including teachers and scientific researchers, could be admitted, next year, to higher education institutions and the National Center for Scientific Research, through a public competition to be opened in brief.
Esperança da Costa, who spoke at the opening of the 8th National Conference on Science and Technology and the 3rd Fair of Ideas, Innovations and Technology-Based Entrepreneurship, said that the Foundation for Scientific and Technological Development (FUNDECIT) had been created to reinforce the National System of Science and Technology.
In another part of his speech, he mentioned that the event coincides with the period of 16 days of activism on violence against women and, expressing solidarity with victims of this phenomenon, he expressed his rejection of physical, psychological, sexual, emotional violence, discrimination and negative practices “dressed” as bullying.
No less important was the debate, in particular, in the National Assembly, during which deputies suggested changes to the form and content of article 10 of chapter V, on the capture of funds from the State General Budget Law Proposal (OGE) , referring to the 2024 financial year.
Parliamentarians did not agree with the law’s postulate that requests power for the Executive to capture up to 100% of the funds for a given program, arguing that 100% capture would mean changing the authorization that should only occur with parliamentary approval, so as not to appear to be “carte blanche” for the Executive.
However, after the Conference of Presidents of Parliamentary Groups, the National Assembly (AN) decided to take to the final global vote, on December 12th, the Proposed Law that approves the General State Budget (OGE) for 2024, which provides for revenue and expenses valued at 24.6 billion kwanzas.
Also noteworthy in the period in question was Angola’s participation in the XI Forum of Presidents of the Supreme Courts of Justice of Portuguese-speaking Countries and Territories, held in Brazil, where the country defended, among other issues, the implementation of procedural speed in the courts at level of technological development that humanity records.
During the week, Nicaragua expressed, through its ambassador to Angola, Roberto Morales, its interest in cooperating towards food self-sufficiency in the country.
Speaking to the press, after a meeting with the general secretary of the MPLA, Paulo Pombolo, the Nicaraguan diplomat highlighted that his country has levels of development in several areas and is available to share experiences to achieve food autonomy in Angola .
The Palestinian ambassador to Angola, Gabriel Shomali, thanked the Angolan authorities for the spirit of solidarity in the face of the conflict between his country and Israel.
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